Qualcomm dominates LTE modem chip market

LONDON – Qualcomm Inc. was responsible for 86 percent of the 47 million FDD-LTE cellphone modems shipped in 2012, according to market research firm Forward Concepts. That's a long way ahead of Samsung with just 9 percent and therefore Qualcomm's domination is set to continue in 2013, the firm said.

A relatively little known company, GCT Semiconductor grabbed 3 percent of the market by way of design wins in LG handsets while Renesas Mobile and Nvidia Icera gained about 1 percent each. Renesas LTE modem sales were mainly through presence in Fujitsu handsets, Forward Concepts said.